Continuing…

I haven't been sleeping well lately. Since Friday, I've been researching various writing courses online.

It started with the Humber School for Writers. But when I realized it's a post-graduate course, and that I may not be able to get into the program, I've been looking at college & university continuing ed. courses.

An English major or minor from places like SFU or the B.C. Open University would be very real contenders – if I lived in B.C! The Humber course, though. The thing I like about that is your mentor or professor can recommend you to the Humber Literary Agency. Now THAT excites me! The problem with doing a full course from a college or university is paying for tuition. Since I am probably going to do my courses through distance education, I could do courses of my own pace so I could take them as I have money. But then again – not all courses are actually offered through distance learning.

Another thing I found it is the coolest thing, I can't believe how exciting it is! It's this program called Booktowns. It's a group of writers retreats in Europe that take place in small towns who get 80% or more of their revenue from book related industry. The current destinations are in France, Norway, Germany, Holland, and Ireland. All the retreats are for one week, with weekend add-ons & one week extensions.

I can't even describe how amazing this sounds to me. To go somewhere overseas, to explore a small town, and to be able to concentrate on writing the entire time. It really is a dream trip from me, since I don't know if or when I'll ever go there otherwise.

These are things that excite me, and can't stop thinking of, that I'll be daydreaming about until I can do them. These are things that I not only want to do, but then I know I will do. I've given myself a gift – I've provided myself a path to follow. My life has direction again! Adventure awaits! I know it's something great, because I wish I could do it all tomorrow.

It all just feels right, like these are things I am supposed to do. One of the courses is on romantic poetry, such as work by Byron, Shelley and Keats. Oh my God, I desperately want to take that course! So, I ordered some course course guides from SFU, McMaster, and BCOU. I hope they get here as soon as humanly possible.

I wish I could start it all tomorrow. I think it was in The Artist's Way or something that talked about doors opening for you when you allow your own desires to be heard. Well, just by getting back into writing, it's as if I brought these opportunities me. I know they've been there all along, but only now have I found them and wanted them and seen them as a real possibility. It feels so amazing to no longer be simply coasting or merely surviving. I'm starting to live again, open my mind and heart to endless possibility. And the universe is responding.